Box-making machine



Feb. 13, 1951 H, J, G055 2,541,414

BOXMAKING MACHINE Filed May 51, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l lam-4....

Q .4 4 a EU 44 Feb. 13, 1951 H. J. 6088 BOXMAKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 31, 1946 I?" 6 w n WWI-1X3 Feb. 13, 1951 H. J. (5058 BOXMAKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 51, 1946 Feb. 13, 1951 H. J. G085 2541 4114 BOXMAKING MACHINE Filed May 51, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 \J 15 Human llllllllll ll INVENTOR. .Hdrdczzzfioss.

J m/JMMW Patented Feb. 13, 1951 BOX-MAKING MACHINE:

Harold J. Goss, Nashua, N. H., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Central National Bank of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio Application May 31,1946, Serial No. 673,349

21 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in methods and apparatus for making boxes, particularly double-wall boxes, and the general obi e01? thereof is to provide a more economical method and apparatus of making boxes from a suitably cut and scored blank, assembling and erecting the same in the plant in which they are to be utilized in such manner that they can be readily supplied to the filling and packing systems peculiar to the product being packaged.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for thus making and erecting boxes which will enable a desired number of boxes to be delivered simultaneously and in sequence to a suitable conveyer leading to the filling and packaging machines of the system.

In usual manufacture of double-wall boxes a machine or machines have been provided for operating upon suitably cut and scored blanks having side and end wall panels provided with extensions adapted to be infolded and adhesively secured to the respective sides and ends of the box. The blanks thus conditioned are then supplied to the plant where they are to be utilized and other machines employed to glue the end panels and erect the box. Such previously conditioned blanks require more space for shipping and storage than fiat blanks of a single thickness. Furthermore when such blanks are stored in piles and left for a considerable period the middle portions of the blanks, which are of a single thickness, sag so that the blanks are in a curved condition which interferes with automatic feeding of the blanks to other machines for applying adhesive to the extensions of the end panels and tabs which interlock the ends and side panels.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a method and means by which the complete manufacture of the boxes from suitably cut and creased fiat blanks may be accomplished in a series of operations upon the blank while traveling in a straight path and which will avoid distortion of the blanks of the character above described.

Other machines have heretofore been employed having means for infolding and adhesively securing the marginal extensions of the sides to the inner faces thereof and thereafter transferring the blank thus conditioned to a conveyer of another machine positioned at right angles thereto which is provided with means for applying adhesive to the extensions of the end panels and interlocking tabs and thereafter, assembling.

erecting the walls of the box and infolding the end tab extensions and securing them to the inner faces of the end panels and to the interlocking tabs as disclosed in Patent No. 1,803,698, granted to me May 5, 1931, for Blank preparing mechanism for box-making machines. Such machines require a large floor space because of the right angle arrangement of the respective machines for conditioning the blank and thereafter erecting and assembling it.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which will require a minimum of floor space in which suitably cut and scored blanks will be forwarded successively in a straight line and during the straight line forwarding movement progressively operated upon to produce an assembled and erected double-Wall structure and enabling a plurality of such machines to be placed closely side by side so that an operator may more readily furnish blanks to the feeding mechanism of the machines and enable the completed boxes to be delivered from two or more machines to a conveyer leading to the filling and packaging mechanism.

This is accomplished by providing a machine having alined front, intermediate and rear sections, the front section having means for successively forwarding suitably cut and scored blanks in the longitudinal direction of the axis thereof, and infolding side panel extensions, an intermediate section having means for momentarily arresting and turning successive blanks at right angles to the forwarding movement at accurately timed intervals to avoid interference of the turning blanks with the previous or successive blank, and a rear section having means for infolding extensions of the end panels and thereafter erecting and assembling the successive boxes, thus enabling automatic completion of the boxes to be produced at a maximum speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel mechanism for turning blanks presented to it in the longitudinal direction of the axis thereof which will insure greater accuracy in the subsequent forwarding and erection of the boxes thereby avoiding wastage of material. More particularly the invention has for its further object in box blank folding machines generally a mechanism for feeding and turning the box blanks comprising means to feed a blank, means to arrest the fed blank, means for thereupon turning the arrested blank on a fixed center located in the line of direction to the feed and through an arc of and means then to feed the turned blank in the said direction. 7

These and other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the fol- 3 lowing description and the accompanying drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a detail view partially in vertical section on line I| Fig. 2 viewed from the right toward the left;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the blank timing and turning mechanism partially in vertical section viewed from the left toward the right on line 2-2 Fig. 1 showing the stop mechanism arresting a blank and rotatable clamping mechanism engaging the blank together with means for rotating the clamping mechanism to position the blank at right angles to its original direction of movement;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the clamping mechanism depressing the blank and the blank rotated with its longitudinal axis at right angles to the direction of its original movement;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view mainly in vertical section of the blank clamping and rotating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a plan View showing in full lines the blank having infolded marginal sections of the side panels which is delivered to the blank-turning mechanism and illustrating in dotted lines the position of the blank after having been turned at right angles to its initial longitudinal movement and illustrating in section the upper vertical shaft of a member of the blank-turningmechanism.

Fig. 6 is a conventional view of a machine embodying the invention showing the front, intermediate and rear sections thereof in straight line arrangement and illustrating partially in section a conveyer for receiving completed boxes from one or more machines and delivering them therefrom to a suitable destination.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic plan view of the mechanisms of the alined sections of the machine shown in Fig. 6; and,

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 7.

The present invention comprises in its preferred embodiment a method of forming a double-wall box from a suitably scored fiat blank of bendable material suitably cut and creased to define a bottom with side wall panels and end panels and having interlocking tabs which comprises forwarding the blanks in a straight, course with the longitudinal axis of the blank positioned in the direction of the forwarding movement, infolding the side extensions and scour-- ing them to the inner faces of the side walls, then arresting the forwarding movement of the blank and turning the blank on a fixed center through an arc of 90 to position its longitudinal axis at right angles to the forwarding movement, continuing the forwarding movement in the same direction, applying adhesive to the extensions of the end walls and to the tabs, and erecting and assembling the sides and ends with the end extensions infolded against the inner faces of the end panels. The successive steps of the method of thus operating upon the blank during the straight line movement thereof could be performed manually but preferably are performed automatically by a machine such as that disclosed and described herein.

A preferred form of blank E for forming a double-wall reinforced erected box embodying the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 5 and comprises a generally rectangular flat sheet provided with longitudinal crease lines I and 8 with side-wall panels 9 and i6 extending laterally therefrom and having longitudinal infoldable extensions which are shown as doubled under the panels, the edges being shown by dash lines. The side-wall panels have longitudinally extending infoldable tabs l3 and M with notched inner edges l5 and 16 respectively. The ends of the infolded sections H and i2 are provided with narrow projecting tabs H which underlie the tabs [3 and i4. Transverse crease lines l8 and I9 define the bases of end-wall panels 20 and 2! which in turn are provided with transverse crease lines 22 and 23 with extensions 24 and 25 therebeyond adapted to be folded inwardly against the inner faces of the walls 2|] and 2| and around the tabs I3 and I4 respectively upon erection of the box.

A preferred form of machine for performing the process above described is illustrated conventionally and diagrammatically in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, and comprises three alined sections A, B, and C, in which the first or primary section A illustrates blank conditioning mechanism for preparing the blanks for subsequent operations and may be and is such as that disclosed in Patent No. 1,803,698, granted to me for blank preparing mechanism for box making machines. The secondary or rear section C, in which the completion of the folding and setting-up mechanisms of the blank are performed, may and does contain mechanisms such as those disclosed in prior Patents No. 1,513,236, granted October 28, 1924, to me for Machine for making boxes, and its Reissue No. 16,193, granted October 27, 1925, and No. 1,765,420, granted June 24, 1930, for Machine for making set-up boxes.

The intermediate section B interposed between the primary section A and the secondary section C has as its essential feature mechanism for turning the blank on a fixed center in the line of feed through an arc of 90 so that the blanks may travel throughout in a straight line positioned during the latter portion of their travel at right angles to their position during the first part of their travel. This intermediate section in the preferred form illustrated comprises means for receiving the blanks forwarded lengthwise from the first section, then arresting the travel of the blanks and then turning them on a fixed center in timed relation to position the longitudinal axis thereof perpendicular to the forwarding movement and then continuing the forwarding movement of the thus turned blanks in the same forwarding traveling or feeding direction as for example to the conveyer mechanism of the rear section C in position for the operation of mechanisms for gluing and folding the end panels of the blank and erecting the blanks to provide set-up boxes.

As shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8, a pile of blanks E of the character described are placed upon a usual hopper F having a bottom feed belt G from which they are delivered successively in suitable spaced relation between upper and lower leads H and I of cooperating endless conveyers which engage the blanks therebetween centrally and longitudinally thereof and forward them through the section A. The side panels of the blank are acted upon by suitable horizontal vertically reciprocating bars J which break down the side panels on the crease lines 7 and S of the blank. The panels then are erected to horizontal position by guides K in which position the under faces of the panel extensions pass over Suitable glue-applying rolls L. The panel extensions are then broken down by vertical reciprocating horizontal bars M and thereupon folded against the side panels by vertical converging guides N and are pressed thereupon by upper and lower presser rolls and P from which they pass to feed rolls 3 and 4 which deliver them successively to the forwarding mechanisms of the blank timing and turning mechanism hereinafter described which turns and delivers the blanks to a secondary section C containing folding and erecting mechanism for setting up the blanks.

The mechanism illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 of section C may be and is that disclosed in Patents Nos. 1,513,236, Reissue 16,193 and 1,765,420, comprising joggers Q, a rotatable device R for breaking down the extensions of the end panels, rotatable corner tab breakers S and from which the blanks pass over the glue applying rolls T beneath presser rolls U to folding and setting-up mechanisms V from which the set-up boxes may be delivered to a suitable conveyer D for transporting the completed boxes from one or more machines of the character described arranged in parallelism to suitable filling and packaging mechanism, or to any other desirable destination. Inasmuch as the setting-up mechanism V is fully disclosed in detail in the aforesaid Patents Nos. 1,513,236, Reissue 16,193 and 1,765,420, detail illustration thereof herein is unnecessary.

The means for delivering the side folded blanks from the section A to the section B are indicated by cooperating upper and lower feed rolls 3 and 4 which forward the blanks lengthwise of blank forwarding and turning mechanism of section B hereinafter described as blank transferring mechanisms. The mechanism for receiving the turned blank from the section B and carrying the a same through the conditioning and assembling mechanism on section C are indicated as endless sprocket chains 5 mounted upon suitably driven sprockets 6 the upper lead of the conveyers being in the horizontal plane of travel of the blank.

The intermediate section B in itself and. in combination with a primary or front blank conditioning section A and a secondary or rear blank handling section C is shown as comprising a blank forwarding mechanism for receiving the longitudinally traveling blanks from the primary section A, mechanism for successively arresting the blanks in a predetermined position, mechanism for turning the arrested blanks about a fixed center through an arc of 90 to position them transversely of the direction of feed and for then delivering the blanks thus turned to the secondary section C.

The blank transferring mechanism comprises an upper'frame 25 extending longitudinally of the direction of movement of the blank and is supported upon tie rods 21 and 28 anchored at their ends in the side frames and 2. The frame 25 has a downwardly extending flange 29 having at the forward end a series of laterally extending parallel studs projecting therefrom near its lower edge upon which are mounted rollers 30. The lower lead 3| of an endless belt extends beneath and engages the rollers 30 and is adapted to engage the upper face of the blank. The endless belt extends around a pulley 32 and the upper lead 33 of the belt extends beneath the guide roller 34 and thence over a tension roller 35 the axle of which is adjustably mounted in a suitable guideway 36 and thence extends downwardly 6.. over a pulley 31, the pulleys 32 and 31 serving to hold the lower lead 3| of the belt in feeding engagement with the box blank E. This endless belt and means cooperating therewith serves to forward the box blank lengthwise to the blank turning mechanism. A similar endless belt 38 having a lower lead 39 engaged by like parallel rollers 40 and suitable means cooperating therewith serves to forward the turned blank to the conveyer 5 which carries the turned blank to the erecting and assembling mechanism. The endless belt 38 at its forward end passes over a guide roll 4|, thence over a tension roller 42 adjustably mounted in the side frame, thence beneath a uide roller 43, and thence around a suitably driven roller 44.

Suitable means are provided to hold the blank in engagement with the under leads 3| and 39 of the respective endless belts. In the preferred construction illustrated series of lower rolls 45 and 46 are located immediately beneath the respective rollers 3|! and 40 and are mounted in a longitudinally extending frame 41 which is fixedly secured to the upper end of a cylindrical post 48 which is slidably mounted upon a bracket 49 which is fixedly secured upon a transverse tie rod 59 the ends of which are mounted in the side frames 1 and 2. The post 48 is also slidably mounted near its lower end in a bracket 5| which is fixedly secured upon a transverse tie rod 52 which likewise is mounted at its ends in the side frames and 2. The frame 41 is also provided with a guide rod 53 which is fixedly secured at its upper end to the frame 4? and extends downwardly in parallelism with the post 48 and is lidably mounted in bosses 54 and 55 in the brackets 49 and 5| respectively. A split bracket 56 is clamped upon the post 48 and is provided with an extension having aboss 5'! which is slidably mounted ,on the guide rod 53. A spiral spring 58, which surrounds the post 48 and is interposed between the bracket 5| and the bracket 55, normally raises the frame 41 and causes the respective series of rollers 45 and 46 to engage the lower leads 3| and 39 of the endless belts in cooperative relation to the upper series of rollers 30 and 40 respectively.

Suitable means (not shown) are provided for driving the endless belts to cause the lower leads 3| and 39 respectively thereof to engage the blanlm and in cooperation with the upper and lower sets of rollers respectively successively to forward the blanks to the conveyor 5 for delivering them to the assembling and erecting mechanism. Such driving mechanism may comprise sprocket chains driven from suitable sprockets upon the shaft of the sprocket 6 to the shaft of the pulley 44 and complementary sprockets on the shafts of the pulleys 44 and 32 which will continuously operate the forwarding belts.

The mechanism for turning the blank from its longitudinal axial movement to a position at right angles thereto comprises complementary axially alined upper and lower vertical shafts mounted in a fixed position and interposed between the guide rollers 31 and 4| of the respective forwarding belts and means for rotating said shafts on their fixed vertical axis through an angle of said shafts having complementary means for engaging the central portion of the blank and means for depressing the lower frame 41 and the rollers 45 carried thereby to free the blank from effective engagement by the forwarding belts. The mechanism also comprises means for arresting the longitudinally 7 traveling blank at a: position in which it will be engaged centrally by the turning mechanism and for removing. the arresting means to permit the blank to beturned at right angles to its original; direction. of movement.

Suitable means are provided for supporting the. blanks as they are forwarded through the turning mechanism such, for example, as fiat tables 59 and G9 which are located slightly below the plane of the lower leads 3I and 39 of the respective conveyors and are supported upon suitable brackets BI and 92 mounted upon transverse tie rods 53 and E the ends of which are mounted in the side frames I and 2. The mechanism for arresting the blank to position the center thereof in axial alinement with the vertical shafts comprises parallel bars 55 which extend in parallelsm to the lower lead 39 of the belt Which forwards the blank from the turning mechanism and are located upon opposite sides of the forwarding belt with stops t9 adjustably mounted upon said bars. The bars 55 are pivotally connected at their rear ends respectively to links 6'! and at their forward ends to arms 68 of a rock shaft 69. The rock shaft 59 has secured to it preferably in proximity to the side frame I an arm it which is pivotally connected to a rod TI and the lower end of the rod II has secured to it a fitting i2 having a fork '53 which embraces the hub of a suitable cam M upon a U driven shaft 15 the fork having a cam roller 76 which engages the periphery of the cam 14. The bars 65 are normally so positioned that the stop members 69 will be engaged by the leading end blank as it is being forwarded longitudinally by p the blank-advancing mechanism and thereby will arrest the blank with its center in proper position with the axes of the turning mechanism. The cam I4 is so constructed and the rotation thereof so timed with respect to the depressing movement imparted to the blank that the rod II will be raised after the blank has been arrested thereby to raise the arm it of the rock shaft 59 upwardly and rotate the rock shaft 69 and its arms 58 upwardly thereby acting through the rock shaft arms 58 and the parallel links to move the bars 55 longitudinally and upwardly sufficiently to raise the stops B5 forwardly and upwardly out of engagement with the leading end of the blank and thereby permit free turning movement of the blank.

The means for depressing the blank and the lower frame to free the lower leads 31 and 39 of the forwarding belts from effective engagement with the blank comprises a vertical shaft 17 which is slidably and rotatably mounted in axial alinement with the axis of the post 48 in a bearing or boss 18 upon a bracket in the upper frame 25 as shown in Figs. 2,3, and 4. The shaft 11 has upon its upper end an enlarged head I9 adapted to be engaged by means for depressing the shaft and is normall held in raised position by a spiral spring 89 which surrounds the shaft and is interposed between the boss I8 and the head 19 (Fig. 4). The lower end portion 8| of the shaft is of reduced diameter and has fixedly secured to it a collar 82 adapted to engage the under side of the boss 18 to limit the upward movement thereof produced by the spring 80. The reduced lower end of the shaft has mounted upon it a rotatable sleeve 83 having a flanged lower end 85 provided with a fiat face adapted to engage the upper face of the blank A. The sleeve 83 is secured to the lower end of the shaft by an anchoring pin 85 having a head fitting a cylindrical recess in the sleeve and having a 8. shank. extending axially intothe section 8| of the shaft and fixedly secured thereto. An anti-- friction. bearing 86 is interposed between the upper end of the sleeve 83 and the collar 82.

The mechanism. for depressing the shaft I1 comprises a rocker arm 81, which is mounted upon a rock shaft 88, having a head extending over and, axially engaging the head I9 of the shaft. The rock shaft 88 has secured to its other end, preferably adjacent the side frame I an arm 89 which is pivotally connected to a rod 99, the lower end of which has secured to it a fork 9I which embraces the shaft 15 andis provided with a cam follower roll 92 which is engaged and actuated by a cam 93 upon the driven shaft 15. The cams M and 93 are so constructed and positioned upon the shaft 15 that the shaft 1'! will first be depressed by the action of the cam 9! to disengage the blank from the forwarding belt and the stops 69 thereafter raised to permit rotation of the blank.

As heretofore described the frame 41 normally holds the respective series of rollers 45 and 45 in cooperating relation to the lower leads 3| and 39 of the endless forwarding belts. The mechanism heretofore described which cooperates with the lower leads 3I and 39 of the respective forwarding belts comprises the vertically movable frame 91 extending longitudinally beneath the endless belt and is provided with series of rollers 45 and 99 which respectively cooperate with the rollers 99 and 19 upon the upper frame to pinch the blank against the forwarding belts, the frame 41 being forced upwardly into such position by the spring 59 which is interposed between the fixed bracket 5I and the split bracket 56 which is clamped upon the cylindrical post 58.

The mechanism for turning the blank E comprises a shaft 94 which is rotatably journaled in the cylindrical post 48 and is provided at its upper end with a cylindrical head 95 having an enlarged flat upper surface 96 complementary to and in axial alinement with the shaft 11. An antifriction bearing 91- is interposed between the upper surface of the frame 41 and the head 95 of the shaft 94. The lower end of the shaft 94 is j ournaled in a bearing 98 within the cylindrical post 58. A collar 99 upon the lower end portion of the shaft 94 engages the end of the cylindrical post 48 and a wide gear I09, which issplined. upon the lower end of the shaft 94, is retained thereon by suitable lock nuts IIJI. The gear I engages the teeth of a rack I02 which is. slidably mounted in a guideway I93 in a downwardly extending offset arm I94 of the bracket 5|. The rack I92 is provided with a cam follower I which engages and is actuated by a suitable cam I05 on the cam shaft to reciprocate the rack longitudinally and thereby to rotate the gear I99 and the vertical shaft 94 to which it is secured. The cams I4, 93, and I 96 are all mounted upon the shaft I5 which is provided with a sprocket I9! suitably driven by a sprocket chain (not shown) in timed relation to the sprocket chains 5 which forward the blanks from the turning mechanism.

Suitable means are provided for accurately arresting the blank E at the end of the turning movement in order that the turned blank may be properly positioned upon the conveyer which forwards it through the mechanism which applies. adhesive to the infolding locking tabs and the extensions. of the end panels and thereafter to-present a conditioned blank accurately to the assembling and erecting mechanism and thus avoiding wastage of improperly formed boxes.

The preferred mechanism illustrated herein for thus arresting the blanks at the end of the movement which turns them at right angles to the direction of the forwarding movement comprises a fiat bar which has a vertical section I08 which is adiustably secured by a set screw I09 in a boss extending laterally from a collar 1 H) which is adjustah-ly mounted upon the tie rod 21 and secured thereon by a set screw Ill which is located in advance of the blank-turning mechanism. The bar is provided with a downwardly offset portion H2 the lower end of which is positioned laterally out of the path of the longitudinally advancing blank and engages the table member 59. The lower end of the offset extension is adapted to be adjustably positioned, as illustrated in Fig. 5, so as to engage the edge of the end wall extension of the blank E when the blank is turned in a clockwise direction. By reason of the adjustment above described the stop may be positioned to engage properly blanks of different lengths and/or widths in such manner as to insure accurate positioning of the blanks with their longitudinal axis at right angles to the direction of the forwarding movement.

The cams M, 93, and H15, which are all secured to the shaft '55, are so constructed and positioned as to actuate the mechanisms heretofore described for arresting the blanks, releasing the blank from the forwarding mechanism, raising the stop mechanism, turning the blank to position its longitudinal axis at right angles to the direction of forwarding movement, and thereafter restoring the blank into engagement with the forwarding mechanism, releasing the blank clamping and rotating means, and after the turned blank has been forwarded restoring the stop mechanism to a position'to engage the next succeeding blank.

While the mechanism is heretofore described as comprising blank turning mechanism interposed between usual mechanism for infolding the edge sections of the side panels during the lengthwise movement of the blanks and mechanism for assembling and erecting the blank, it will be obvious that blanks having the extensions of the side panels folded inwardly and secured thereon may be manually or otherwise successively presented to the blank turning mechanism with their longitudinal axes positioned in the direction of the forwarding movement, then turned accurately through an angle of 90, and thereafter bodily forwarded in the same direction to the assembling and erecting mechanism.

It will be understood that the particular mechanism shown and described herein is of an illustrative character and that various modifications in construction may be made within the spirit and scope of the following claims to perform the successive steps in the method herein described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a box-making machine having mechanism for erecting and assembling a box from a flat rectangular blank suitably cut and scored to define end-wall panels and longitudinal side-wall panels having inwardly foldable end tabs, means for forwarding the blanks successively bodily in one direction to the erecting and assembling mechanism including blank-turning mechanism having front and rear blank forwarding means each having an upper positively driven blank-advancing means and a lower antifriction means cooperating therewith and movabl vertically relatively thereto into engagement with the blank, cooperating upper and lower vertically movable axially alined rotatable clamping members positioned between the front and rear forwarding means, said lower clamping member being carried by the lower forwarding member, resilient means normally holding said lower forwarding member in engagement with the upper forwarding means, means for temporarily arresting the blank with the center thereof in axial alinement with the clamping members, and means for moving the upper clamping means downwardly thereby to clamp the blank and to depress the lower antifriction means out of effective engagement with the blank, means for rotating the clamping means to position the blank at right angles to the direction of the forwarding movement, and means for restoring the lower antifriction means into effective engagement with the blank upon completion of the blank turning movement.

2. In combination with a box making machine having mechanism for erecting and assembling a box from a flat rectangular blank suitably cut and scored to define end-wall panels and longitudinal side wall panels having inwardly foldable end tabs, means for forwarding the blanks successively in one direction to the erecting and assembling mechanism including blank turning mechanism having front and rear alined endless belts and means for holding the lower leads of said belts in engagement with the upper face of the blank, a vertically movable frame located beneath said endless belts having antifriction means to engage the lower face of the blank, resilient means normally forcing the lower frame upwardly, blank turning means located between the front and rear forwarding means comprising a vertical shaft mounted in said lower frame having means to engage the under face of the blank, an upper clamping shaft axially alined with said lower shaft having means to engage the upper face of the blank, means for arresting the blank with the center thereof in axial alinement with said clamping shafts, cam actuated means respectively operable to force said upper and lower clamping shafts and said lower frame downwardly to release the forwarding means, to remove the arresting means from engagement with the blank, to rotate the clamping shafts thereby, to position the blank with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the direction of forwarding movement, and then to restore the lower frame into effective engagement with the blank.

3. In combination with a box making machine having mechanism for erecting and assembling a box from a flat rectangular blank suitably cut and scored to define end-wall panels and longitudinal side Wall panels having inwardly foldable end tabs, means for forwarding the blanks successively in one direction to the erecting and assembling mechanism including blank-turning mechanism having means to support the blank, a stationary frame above said support having continuously driven front and rear endless belts, sets of parallel rollers engaging the lower leads of the respective belts to hold them in engagement with the upper face of the blank, a vertically movable lower frame having sets of rollers complementary to the respective belt-engaging rollers, resilient means normally raising said lower frame into cooperative relation with said belts, a vertical clamping shaft rotatably mounted in the lower frame between the forwarding beltsJa complementary upper clamping shaft rewith said clamping shafts, and mechanisms respectively operable to force the upper shaft downwardly clampingly to engage the blank, to

,force the lower frame downwardly out of engagement with the blank, to remove the blank arresting means, to rotate the lower shaft through an angle of 90 to restore the lower frame to effective engagement with the blank and to restore the blank-arresting means to blank-engaging position.

4. In combination with a box making machine having mechanism for erecting and assembling a box from a fiat rectangular blank suitably out and scored to define end-wall panels and longitudinal side wall panels having inwardly foldable end tabs, means for forwarding the blanks successively in one direction to the erecting and assembling mechanism including blank-turning mechanism having means to support the blank, a stationary frame above said support having continuously driven front and rear endless belts, sets of parallel rollers engaging the lower leads of the respective belts to hold them in engagement with the upper face of the blank, a vertically movable lower frame having sets of rollers complementary to the respective belt-engaging rollers, resilient means normally raising said lower frame into cooperative relation with said belts, a vertical clamping shaft rotatably mounted in the lower frame between the forwarding belts, a complementary upper clamping shaft reciprocably and rotatably mounted in said upper frame in axial alinement with the lower clamping shaft, resilient means normally raising said upper clamping shaft, means for arresting the blank with the center thereof in axial alinement with said clamping shafts, and mechanisms respectively operable in predetermined sequence by suitably timed cams on a single driven cam shaft to force the upper shaft downwardly clampingly to engage the blank, to force the lower frame downwardly out of engagement with the blank, to remove the blank-arresting means, to rotate the lower shaft through an angle of 90 to restore the lower frame to effective engagement with the blank and to restore the blank-arresting means to blank-engaging position.

5. In combination with a box making machine having means for erecting and assembling suitably cut and scored rectangular blanks, blankturning means having means to engage and for-.

ward the blanks in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof, vertically reciprocable and rotatable clamping means, and means for actuating the same to engage the blank, to remove the blank vertically out of engagement with said forwarding means and so rotate the blank as to position its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the direction of forwarding movement, means for arresting the blank with the center thereof in alinement with said clamping means comprising a bar extending in parallelism with the path of movement of the blank having a stop normally posiioned to engage the advance end of the blank, a rock shaft having an arm supporting one end of said bar, and a pivot link parallel to said rock shaft arm supporting the other end of the bar, and means for actuating said rock. haft in timed relation to the rotatable clamping means to swing the stop forwardly and upwardly out of engagement with the arrested blank.

6. A machine for accurately and rapidly making double wall set-up boxes from suitably cut and creased blanks while traveling bodily throughout in a straight line having a primary blank conditioning mechanism having means for successively forwarding the blanks lengthwise in the direction of travel and means for doubling and adhesively securing together side panel eX- tensions upon the side panels of the blank, secondary mechanism having means for forwarding the blanks while positioned perpendicular to the direction of travel and means for gluing and doubling the end panels and for successively erecting the blanks to form set-up boxes, and comprising blank transferring mechanism intermediate of said primary and secondary mechanism having means for forwarding the blanks in the direction of travel, means for momentarily arresting each blank and means for rotating the arrested blank on a fixed center through an arc of to cause the blanks to be forwarded in the said rotated position to the secondary mechanism.

'7. A machine for accurately and rapidly making double wall set-up boxes from suitably out and creased blanks while traveling throughout in a straight line comprising a primary blank conditioning mechanism having means for successively forwarding the blanks lengthwise in the direction of travel and means for doubling and adhesively securing together side panel extensions upon the side panels of the blank, secondary mechanism having means for forwarding the blanks while positioned perpendicular to the direction of travel and means for gluing and doubling the end panels and successively erecting the blanks to form setup boxes, and comprising blank transferring mechanism intermediate of said primary and secondary mechanisms having means for forwarding blanks lengthwise in the direction of travel, means for arresting each blank with its center in a predetermined position, cooperating clamping members rotatable and vertically movable upon a fixed vertical axis and positioned to engage the arrested blank, means for actuating said clamping members to remove the blank vertically from the forwarding means, to rotate the blank horizontally through an arc of 90 and thereupon to release the blank and restore engagement thereof with the forwarding means thereby to deliver the blanks successively to the secondary mechanism without interference with the preceding or succeeding blank.

8. A machine for accurately and rapidly mak ing double wall set-up boxes from suitably cut and creased blanks while traveling throughout in a straight line having a primary blank conditioning mechanism having means for successively forwarding blanks lengthwise in the direction of travel and means for doubling and adhesively securing together side panels upon the side panels of the blank, secondary mechanism having means for forwarding the blanks While positioned perpendicular to the direction of travel, means for gluing and doubling the end panels and successively erecting the blanks to form a set-up box and comprising blank transferring mechanism intermediate of said primary and secondary mechanisms having means for initially forwarding blanks from the blank conditioning mechanism longitudinally in the direction of travel, means for arresting each blank with its center in a predetermined position,'clamping members rotatable and vertically movable upon a fixed vertical axis to engage the upper and lower faces of the center of the arrested blank, means for actuating said clamping members vertically to disengage the blank from the forwarding means, to rotate the blank horizontally through an arc of 90 and thereupon to release the blank and restore engagement thereof with the forwarding means thereby to deliver the blanks successively to the secondary means without interference with the preceding or succeeding blank.

9. A machine for accurately and rapidly making double wall set-up boxes from suitably cut and. creased blanks while traveling throughout in a straight line having a primary blank conditioning mechanism having means for successively forwarding blanks lengthwise in the direction of travel and means for doubling and adhesively securing together side panel extensions upon the side panels of the blank, secondary mechanism having means for forwarding the blanks while positioned perpendicular to the direction of travel, means for gluing and doubling the end panels and successively erecting the blanks to form a set-up box and comprising blank transferring mechanism intermediate of said primary and secondary mechanisms having means for initially forwarding blanks from the blank conditioning mechanism longitudinally in the direction of travel, means for arresting each blank 1 with its center in a predetermined position, clamping members rotatable and vertically movable upon a fixed vertical axis to engage the upper and lower faces of the center of the arrested blank, means for actuating said clamping members vertically to disengage the blank from the forwarding means, and to rotate the blank horizontally through an arc of 90, a stop positioned out of the path of the longitudinally traveling blank adapted to engage a reversely moving edge of the rotating blank to insure accurate positioning of the blank, and means operable thereupon to release the blank and restore engagement thereof with the forwarding means thereby to deliver the blanks successively to the secondary means without interference with the preceding or succeeding blank.

10. A machine for accurately and rapidly making double wall set-up boxes from suitably cut and creased blanks while traveling throughout in a straight line comprising a primary blank conditioning mechanism having means for successively forwarding the blanks lengthwise in the direction of travel and means for doubling and adhesively securing together side panel exten sions upon the side panels of the blank, secondary mechanism having means for forwarding the blanks while positioned perpendicular to the direction of travel and means for gluing and doubling the end panels and successively erecting the blanks to form set-up boxes, and compris ing blank transferring mechanism intermediate of said primary and secondary mechanisms having longitudinally alined upper front and rear endless carriers positioned to engage the upper faces of the blank and relatively movable antifriction means to engage the lower faces of the blank, means for arresting each blank with its center between the front and rear endless carrier, axially alined rotatable and vertically movable cooperating clamping members positioned to engage the center of the arrested blank, means for actuating the clamping members to disenease the blank from the endless carriers to rotate the blank horizontally upon a fixed center through an arc of and thereupon to release the blank and restore engagement thereof with the forwarding means.

11. A box making machine as defined in claim 10, in which the lower leads of the endless carriers are each provided with closely spaced backing rollers and the cooperating antifriction means comprises closely spaced rollers opposite to and cooperating with the respective backing rollers, with resilient means normally forcing said cooperating rollers toward the respective endless carriers.

12. The method of forming a double wall box from a flat blank of bendable material suitably cut and creased to define a base with side wall panels having foldable marginal extensions and end tabs and end panels having foldable extensions which comprises forwarding successive blanks in a straight course with the longitudinal axis of the blanks positioned lengthwise in the direction of said forwarding movement, gluing and infolding the extensions of the respective side walls against the inner faces thereof, momentarily arresting the forward movement of each blank at a predetermined position, turning each blank while thus arrested to position it lengthwise accurately at right angles to the direction of the forwarding movement, thereafter resuming the forwarding movement and during the continuance of the forwarding movement applying glue to the extensions of said end walls and to said tabs, erecting and assembling the blank to produce a set-up box, and finally delivering the set-up box in the direction of said forwarding movement.

13. The method of forming a double wall box from a flat blank of bendable material suitably cut and creased to define a base with side wall panels having foldable marginal extensions and end tabs and end panels having foldable extensions which comprises forwarding successive blanks in a straight course with the longitudinal axis of the blanks positioned lengthwise in the direction of said forwarding movement, gluing and infolding the extensions of the respective side walls against the inner faces thereof, momentarily arresting the forward movement of each blank at a predetermined position, turning each blank while thus arrested upon a fixed vertical center to position it lengthwise accurately at right angles to the direction of the forwarding movement, thereafter resuming the forwarding movement and during the continuance of the forwarding movement applying glue to the extensions of said end walls and to said tabs, erecting and assembling the blank to produce a set-up box, and finally delivering the set-up box in the direction of said forwarding movement.

14. A box blank folding machine having alined front and rear folding and intermediate turning sections, means for forwarding blanks successively from the front section through the intermediate section and therefrom to the rear section, the said intermediate section comprising means for arresting each blank, means for thereupon releasing it from the forwarding means, means for turning the released blank on a fixed center through an arc of 90, and means for restoring the turned blank to the forwarding means.

15. A box blank folding machine having alined front and rear folding and intermediate turning sections, means for forwarding blanks successively from the front section through the intermediate section and therefrom to the rear section, the said intermediate section comprising means for arresting each blank, upper and lower clamping members rotatably and vertically movable on a fixed vertical axis, and means for operating said members to clamp the blank, disengage it from the forwarding means, turn it through an arc of 90, release it when turned, and restore the turned blank to engagement with the feeding means.

16. A box blank folding machine having alined front and rear folding and intermediate turning sections, means for forwarding blanks successively from the front section through the intermediate section and therefrom to the rear section, the said intermediate section comprising, means for arresting each blank with its center 'in a predetermined position, clamping members rotatable and vertically movable upon a fixed vertical axis to engage the upper and lower faces of the center of the arrested blank, means for actuating said clamping members vertically to disengage the blank from the forwarding means, and to rotate the blank horizontally through an arc of 90, a stop positioned out of the path of the blank as it travels to arrested position and adapted to engage a reversely moving edge of the rotating blank to insure accurate positioning of the turned blank, and means operable thereupon to release the blank and restore engagement thereof with the forwarding means thereby to deliver the blanks successively to the rear section without interference with the preceding or succeeding blank.

17. A box blank folding machine having alined front and rear folding and intermediate turning sections, means for forwarding blanks successively from the front section through the intermediate section and therefrom to the rear section, the said intermediate section comprising longitudinally alined upper front and rear endless carriers positioned to engage the upper faces of the blank and relatively movable antifriction means to engage the lower faces of the blank, means for arresting each blank with its center between the front and rear endless carriers, axially alined rotatable and vertically movable cooper ating clamping members positioned to engage the center of the arrested blank, means for actuating the clamping members to disengage the blank from the endless carriers, to rotate the 16 blank horizontally upon a fixed center through an arc of and thereupon to release the blank and restore engagement thereof with the forwarding means.

18. A box blank folding machine as defined in claim 1'7 in which the lower leads of the endless carriers are each provided with closely spaced backing rollers and the cooperating antifriction means comprises closely spaced rollers opposite to and cooperating with the respective backing rollers, with resilient means normally forcing said cooperating rollers toward the respective endless carriers.

19. Mechanism for feeding and turning box blanks comprising means to feed a blank rectilinearly, means to arrest the fed blank, means for thereupon clamping and turning the arrested blank on a fixed center through an arc of 90, and means to feed the turned blank rectilinearly in the same direction as before turning.

20. Mechanism for feeding and turning box blanks comprising means to feed a blank rectilinearly, arresting means engaging the forward edge of the blank when it reaches turning position, means for removing the arresting means from engagement with the said forward edge, means for thereupon turning the arrested blank on a fixed center through an arc of 90, and means to feed the turned blank rectilinearly in the same direction as before turning.

21. Mechanism for feeding and turning box blanks as defined in claim 20 together with a stop positioned out of the path of the blank as it is fed to turning position and in position to en gage a reversely moving edge of the blank at the end of the turning movement.

HAROLD J. GOSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 18,463 Goss May 17, 1932 943,622 Benjaminowitsch Dec. 14, 1909 1,765,420 Goss June 24, 1930 1,803,698 Goss May 5, 1931 2,407,174 Oberender Sept. 3, 1946 

